Story by Christelle Agboka / NAD
On Saturday evening, July 5, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America (NAD) presented the first division report at the 2025 General Conference Session. NAD president G. Alexander Bryant, executive secretary Kyoshin Ahn, and treasurer Judy R. Glass introduced the video, which focused on the division’s ministry activities and accomplishments during the past three years. While the time frame covered for this report was shortened due to the global pandemic, the division’s impact over these years was far-reaching and significant.
Gerson P. Santos, General Conference associate secretary, introduced his "adopted division," sharing that the North American Division is the largest division in territory, spanning nine countries and territories and 14 time zones, with a membership of more than 1.3 million in almost 7,000 congregations, worshiping in more than 30 languages. Its territory also includes roughly 1,000 schools, 13 universities and colleges, a vast network of hospitals and clinics, and several media ministries.
In his opening words before the video aired, Bryant stated, "There's an African proverb that says, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. The North American Division theme for the past three years has been Together in Mission.* It is built on the belief that we are stronger together and can make a greater impact for Christ when we're working together; and when we are linked together, arm to arm and heart to heart — the local church, the local school, health and higher educational institutions, the local conference, the union, the division, the General Conference — using our resources and our assets in a harmonious way to advance the mission of God, we are an unbeatable force."
Bryant then referenced the NAD's three strategic areas of focus, or three Ms: multiply, media, and mentorship. "Multiply . . . deals with how we can most effectively multiply the ministry of Jesus. It doesn't mean that we have not been doing the ministries of Jesus. But how can we do them more effectively, with greater impact? The teaching ministry of Jesus, the healing ministry of Jesus, the proclamation ministry of Jesus, the compassionate ministry of Jesus, coming together with one impact. Pentecost 2025 is an example of this coming together in mission approach, where the local church, the local school, the conference, the local union, the division, and the General Conference come together to advance this initiative across the North American Division territory. This is multiply: multiplying Christ's ministries, multiplying Christ's impact, and multiplying the influence of the ministry of Jesus."
He then turned to Glass, who addressed media, the second M. "By utilizing the power of media, church members in North America are connecting with people who are seeking to learn more about God, and then helping them find a faith community," said Glass. She shared that "more than 13,000 digital disciples have been trained in an ongoing initiative to teach church members how to share their faith through live chat." Glass underscored that through the live chat features on Adventist.org, "questions about beliefs are being answered, requests for prayer are being accepted, and people are connected to local churches." She noted that outward-facing ministries such as Faith for Today also harness the power of broadcast media to share God's grace. She concluded, "These digital connections open doors to build friendships and share God's love."
Ahn concluded the NAD leaders' introduction with an inspiring vision: "We envision a church where seasoned leaders pour into the young, and where experienced pastors lift up emerging voices, so that every member, every believer in our territory, is both mentored and mentoring, all for the cause of Christ. Brothers and sisters, here is the North American Division report. Thank you."
Highlights From the NAD Report
Below are highlights from the North American Division’s report.
[A full written report will later be available in the Adventist Review’s daily GC Session bulletin.]
Since 2022, NAD members and leaders across Bermuda, Canada, Guam-Micronesia, and the U.S. have united in their individual and collective answer to Christ’s disciple-making call, embodying the strategic plan of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church: “I will go.” Under the quinquennial theme, “Together in Mission,” with three focal points of multiplying disciples, harnessing media for outreach, and mentoring current and next generation leaders, the division has made strides in spreading the distinctive, Christ-centered Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness in its territory. Since 2022, the NAD family has welcomed 204,357 new members into 6,810 churches and 894 companies.
The story of how the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America has continued to grow in a challenging post-COVID-19 context is multi-faceted and complex; thus, it was divided into five chapters for the GC session audience.
https://www.nadadventist.org/news/north-american-division-presidents-report-2025-general-conference-session-highlightsRead the full report on the North American Division Website.
Finally, Ahn provided an overview of the third M — mentorship — before the division video report aired for thousands gathered at the GC Session and those watching the livestream. "We believe mentorship is an essential part of our mission. Mentorship means walking alongside others, sharing wisdom, giving encouragement, listening to their stories, and empowering others and the next generations to serve with courage and compassion to fulfill the church's mission in this world," he stated, continuing, "It is grounded in Scripture, prayer and a shared commitment to Christ. Through this mentoring process, faith is deepened, leaders are shaped, and the local church becomes stronger."